Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Coal Beds
Under the dark shade was an old short tree. It was much lower than the surrounding trees, only six to seven meters in total, but its body spread broadly, creating a thicker than normal trunk.
It didn’t have many branches on its body. Only the roof splitted off at the top and created a mushroom-like leaves roof.
"This tree seems promising. Its body is straight. It is a natural shade tree as well." Siderius touched its bark to get a feel.
Its hard bark was dark red in color with a hint of brown.
"How are we going to cut this down, Master?" Ashe was flabbergasted by the size of the trunk.
It took a lot of time to cut down thin trees. It could only take much more to bring this tree down.
"By the same method we use to achieve everything in life. Repetition and patience.
Let’s set up our camp here."
With that said, Siderius and Ashe built a temporary shelter near the red tree. They picked an elevated ground so they could spot any potential dangers.
Ashe knew how to build survival structures already so Siderius didn’t have to do all of the work. They each have their own part to do.
They finished setting up the new camp by dusk. Siderius took out a few pieces of salted deer meat for dinner.
He and Ashe sat around the sizzling firecamp, enjoying its warmth and filling their stomachs.
The actual work began tomorrow. For now, they could rest.
"How are your Truth-Seeking Path, my apprentice?" Siderius said.
"I’m very close to my enlightenment, Master. I can feel it."
"Not bad."
It had been quite a bit of time since Siderius taught her about the alchemist way. Almost a month had passed and many things had happened.
Siderius had created a fake guild and recruited the three thugs as his henchmen. They were good info-stealers and could provide details about what was going on in Mucktown without him actually being there.
He saved Carsten and had a battle in the Rocky Pit. He came out victorious with a bit of spare coins and an amount of Aethers. The mining camp survived but Siderius didn’t try to establish connection with them yet. Lyara could be watching and he did not want to be captured at the moment.
The obsession that the witch had with him was unimaginable.
Siderius crafted the hunter uniform. A base clothing with a little bit of defensive capabilities. He could do better with some other paddings and even pieces of armor.
As for weapons, he broke his sword in the battle of the Rocky Pit. But still, he could use the assassin’s serrated knife in the meantime. The sling was a good weapon and the Sticky Projectile, Explosive Projectile, and Phosphorus Projectile were dangerous ammo.
Siderius gained a horse from Nadia. The beast was untrained and was still being taken care of by Kraus. Siderius would need to train it soon. He was in need of a good mount.
Now with a little bit of downtime, he could also start to create other concoctions that helped with the training of this body and his journey in the future.
However, as of now, it was more important to create bows for him and Ashe. The bows would ensure Ashe’s survival while he’s gone and it could perfect Siderius’ range game.
He needed to find Mercury and Iron for what he was going to do next. Crafting arrows would be expensive and they needed to have good arrowheads to be effective. Ordering arrowheads from the blacksmith in Mucktown would surely raise a lot of attention so Siderius could only make it his own.
To craft arrowheads he needed Iron as the base material, and Mercury to shape it to his will. Iron was available in the Rocky Pit. He wouldn’t be going there at the moment but Kraus should have no problem buying some from them. The only downside was that Kraus wouldn’t have a good deal like Siderius if he was to go by himself.
But still, safety was the most important so Siderius wouldn’t worry about a few pieces of coins.
As for Mercury. The Rocky Pit didn’t have it in their collections. Siderius had checked it himself. However, the Rose Springs near the Rocky Pit may have what he needed.
Natural Mercury usually formed in hot springs so it was worth a try for Siderius to check.
"Hmmm. I should add a check list or mission tab of some kind to the system. That would be great in keeping track of all things." Siderius thought.
Modifying the system was easy. He made it himself so he knew how to change it. He only lacked the Mercury to do so.
After talking with Ashe for a bit, Siderius went on to teach her an important piece of information in surviving in the wild without a proper shelter.
Previously, they had both dug out two trenches and let hardwood burn inside it. Once they all turned into coal, the pair began to bury the coals under a thick layer of dirt.
"Now remember. You have to bury the coal deep enough. The span of your palm would be sufficient. And make sure to extinguish all the coals. If these two things aren’t done correctly, you will be roasting yourself in the night."
Siderius shared his knowledge. They were talking and moving the dirt at the same time. Ashe was listening carefully.
"All right. That should be it. Just check if you can see any orange glow on the dirt. It should be an easy indication that you need to fill that spot more."
"I understand, Master." Ashe’s coal bed still had a few glowing spots so she made sure to cover them up nicely.
They managed quickly and the two coal beds were finished. After that, with some layer of evergreens and dried leaves acting as protection, they were ready to be slept on.
Siderius laid down first, moving around to check his bed.
"Feel your coal bed. It should feel warm, not hot, all across.
Then you will have a perfect survival bed in the wild."
Ashe did the same and laid down. They were on either side of the firecamp, feeling the warmth coming up from the coal underneath. With the thick foliage above acting as a natural roof and the warm coal beds, the pair were surprisingly comfortable.
It was a new feeling for Ashe. A type of freedom that she had never experienced before. Ground as your bed and sky as your roof, she felt like she could do anything without any chains to hold her off.
For a moment, all those ordinary needs and emotions of daily life lost all of their importance.
It was an indescribable feeling. Ashe felt lost but assured. And it showed up on her face clearly.
The pair looked up to the thick foliage, the stars illuminated through the crevices of the leaves, creating a unique scenery that one could not see in the world of civilization.
Ashe was lost in it.
"Is this how you always feel, Master? This feeling of loss and loneliness?"
They were in the middle of nowhere with no society nearby to remind them of civilization.
"Yes. It is the way of the witch hunter. Witch hunters have their code too, my apprentice. One of them is the Wanderer.
We wander in nature and survive. We need not to rely on anyone to live. We are free to go wherever we want and do whatever we want.
But the price is loneliness."
Ashe shared an emotional sigh.